Preliminary design of large-scale electromagnetic levitation melting inductor for debris recycling in microgravity

To establish an in-space circular economy as established by the European Space Agency by 2050, Factories in Space (FIS), capable of realizing the full recycling chain, from space debris to newly additive-manufactured objects, can be conceived. Microgravity electromagnetic melting (EML) furnaces represent a viable technology for in-space melting of metallic debris, representing more than 70% of the total materials present in orbit. To establish the energy requirements of a large-scale EML furnace and size the power supply system, electro-thermal simulations have been performed, accounting for thermal radiation losses. The magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) behavior of the molten sample is examined under the effect of the heating system to evaluate the Lorentz force effect on the free surface deformation. The proposed roadmap may represent a new ground for future EML-assisted space debris recycling solutions.